Former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt is returning to Colombia for the first time since commandos rescued her from guerrillas after six years of captivity, a diplomatic source told AFP on Saturday.

Betancourt left Paris Saturday morning for Bogota, where she is scheduled to arrive in the late afternoon five months after her rescue, the source indicated.

In a daring operation army commandos rescued Betancourt and 14 other hostages being held by leftist guerrillas with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on July 2.

Betancourt, 46, who holds both Colombian and French citizenship, flew to France with her family after her release.

Following a short stay in the Colombian capital she will travel in Latin America, members of her entourage said, declining to provide a detailed schedule.

The former presidential candidate for Colombia's Green Party, Betancourt presented to her former support committees plans for a foundation dedicated to human rights. A committee official said the Latin American visit was part of an effort to promote the project.

"It would not be surprising" for Betancourt to visit Bogota, said Herve Marro, head of a support group. "But if she goes, she will not stay very long due to security concerns," he added.

Betancourt's visit comes 24 hours after thousands marched in France, Spain and across Colombia demanding the release of hostages still being held by the FARC, Latin America's largest guerrilla group.

The FARC is believed to be holding between 350 and 700 hostages, including 28 so-called "political hostages" that the rebels want to swap for about 500 imprisoned guerrillas.

Betancourt marched in Madrid alongside Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos on Friday. Neither she nor her family led marches in Colombia for security reasons.

Betancourt was rescued along with two US contractors and eleven members of the armed forces.